Loughborough University

MPUM01

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY

Programme Specification

Materials Engineering – MEng

Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each module can be found in Module Specifications and other programme documentation and online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar

The accuracy of the information in this document is reviewed by the University and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Awarding body/institution; / Loughborough University
Teaching institution (if different); / As above
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body; / Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
Name of the final award; / M.Eng. (Hons); M.Eng. (Hons), DIS or DIntS.
Programme title; / Materials Engineering
Length of Programme / 4 years or 5 years with sandwich year
UCAS code; / J502, J503
Date at which the programme specification was written or revised. / March 2012

1. Aims of the programme:

· To provide a fully accredited honours degree programme in the field of materials engineering which satisfies the needs of industry for graduates of outstanding ability who have a very strong academic background with especially outstanding business and interactive skills.

· Greater in-depth knowledge of materials engineering will be included compared with the BEng counterpart programme and we aim to graduate high calibre materials engineers equipped with skills required to play a leading, technical role at an executive level.

· To encourage students to manage their own learning, communicate effectively and make use of primary source materials.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications

http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/FHEQ/default.asp

QAA Benchmark Statements for Materials

http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/honours/materials.asp

Institute of Materials Guidelines for Accreditation

http://www.iom3.org/content/accredited-courses

Loughborough University, Learning and Teaching Strategy

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/policy/learning_and_teaching/

Annual and periodic Programme Reviews from related programmes

External Examiners’ reports and discussion by the departmental external advisory board

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding:

On successful completion of the programmes, graduates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

· Relevant mathematical methods and principles of materials science as applied to materials engineering;

· A number of specialist materials topics connected with metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites;

· The role of information technology and library resources in providing support for materials engineers;

· Engineering principles relevant to materials selection;

· The materials and engineering aspects of design;

· The professional and engineering responsibilities of materials engineers;

· A systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at the forefront of materials engineering practice.

Learning, teaching and assessment methods to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

Acquisition of the above knowledge and understanding is through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, co-operative projects with industry, internal group and individual projects, practical laboratory work, industrial training coursework assignments, and industrial visits.

Assessment is through a combination of written examinations and continuously assessed coursework. Coursework assessment includes the evaluation of laboratory reports, technical reports, project reports, design project reports, problem solving exercises, computer-assisted assessment, oral presentations, poster presentations, and viva-voce examinations.

Key transferable skills are taught in Part A and students abilities are tested through a group projects in Parts B and D and an individual year project in Part C. Assessments include written reports, presentations, poster presentations and viva voce.

In-depth understanding of materials engineering principles and material characterisation stems from Part D modules which include a Group Design Project, Materials Modelling, Industrial Case Studies, Microscopy and a variety of Language and Management studies options.

3.2 Skills and Attributes

a. Subject specific: cognitive skills

On successful completion of this programme student should be able to:

· Select and identify an appropriate material and manufacturing route for the design of a component;

· Utilise materials engineering principles to develop new materials/processing routes for improved performance of engineering systems;

· Solve materials engineering problems, and, where appropriate, propose new hypotheses;

· Select and apply appropriate IT tools to a variety of materials problems;

· Select materials from an environmentally appreciative viewpoint;

· Analyse materials aspects of components;

· Interpret numerical data and apply sophisticated mathematical methods to the analysis of materials engineering problems.

Learning, teaching and assessment methods to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

Acquisition of the above skills is through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, co-operative projects with industry, internal group and individual projects, practical laboratory work, industrial training coursework assignments, and industrial visits.

Assessment is through a combination of written examinations and continuously assessed coursework. Coursework includes the evaluation of laboratory reports, technical reports, project reports, design project reports, problem solving exercises, computer-assisted assessment, oral presentations, poster presentations, and viva-voce examinations.

The programme requires the students to be able to select and identify suitable materials and manufacturing routes for selected components taught in Part B and further assessed in both the individual project (Part C) and in the Group Project (Part B&D). Design and Project Management are used for materials selection, CAD and Mat lab. IT tools are used ubiquitously. Selection of materials with an environmental appreciation is taught in Sustainability, Recycling and Environmental Issues in Part C. Mathematics skills will be developed throughout the course.

In-depth skills and enhanced cognitive skills will be developed through the extra demands of the individual Masters Project and the Masters Group Design Project. In these modules new hypotheses, in addition to simple interpretation of data, will be expected outcomes.

b. Subject Specific: practical skills

On successful completion of the programmes, students should be able to:

· Use, and have a comprehensive understanding of, appropriate mechanical testing, corrosion testing, optical and electron metallographic, and chemical analysis methods for the study of materials;

· Manipulate systems for the processing of polymers, ceramics and metals;

· Use appropriate computer software for design and modelling exercises;

· Evaluate and present practical data in a format that shows originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques are used to create and interpret materials engineering knowledge;

· Explain experimental results in terms of theoretical mechanisms and concepts;

· Compile clear and well-structured technical reports;

· Acquire and use sources of information appropriately;

· Demonstrate project management skills.

Learning, teaching and assessment methods to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

Assessment is through a combination of written examinations and continuously assessed coursework. Coursework includes laboratory reports, technical reports, project reports, design project reports, problem solving exercises, computer-assisted assessment, oral presentations, poster presentations, and viva-voce examinations.

These skills are developed in Experimentation, Part A; with modules covering Materials Characterisation and Mechanics, and Processing and Structure of Metals, Polymers and Ceramics, Part B; culminating in the individual Masters Project. Explanation of practical results in terms of theoretical concepts and mechanisms is taught in the Materials Characterisation and Mechanics in Part B, and in the individual Masters Project in Part C.

In-depth aspects of materials engineering practical skills will be included in the wider range of experimental modules taught in this programme compared to the BEng programme. These include the Group Design Project Part D, Project Management and Microscopy.

c. Generic Skills

On successful completion of the programmes, students should be able to:

· Organise and manage time and resources effectively;

· Apply constructive, creative, and structured approaches to complex problem solving;

· Exercise the independent learning ability required for continuing professional development;

· Make decisions in complex and unpredictable situations;

· Work effectively, both as part of a team and/or independently;

· Organise and manage time and resources effectively; for short-term and longer-term commitments;

· Possess skills needed to communicate effectively through written, graphical, inter-personal, and presentation media;

· Demonstrate a high level of numeracy; appropriate to the cognitive skills required;

· Compile clear and well-structured technical reports;

· Acquire and use sources of information appropriately;

· Demonstrate project management skills;

· To plan, monitor and record personal, educational and career development issues using the fast track route towards chartered status.

Learning, teaching and assessment methods to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

Team work is taught and learning strategies, which encourage team work, are introduced in Part A modules. Group projects are carried out in Part B and D and independent work is also supported in the Individual Masters Project in Part C. Part A modules provide skills to assist communication in presentational and written forms. The required numeracy is provided by the modules taught by the Mathematics Department with help from the Mathematics Learning Support Centre.

In-depth treatment key/transferable skills appropriate to MEng level programmes will be found in the management topics Teamwork and Leadership, and Project Management. Modules enhance the team building and project administration skill that provide successful project outcomes to problem solving exercises. Exceptional communication skills will be encouraged through the Materials Modelling module and project work.

4. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and awards:

The MEng (Hons) programme in Materials Engineering is offered as a full-time four-year programme or a five-year sandwich programme if taken with the optional year of industrial training or study abroad usually in year 3 between Parts B and C. The sandwich degree offers the additional award of Diploma of Industrial Studies (DIS) or Diploma in International Studies (DIntS). Students study modules with a combined weight of 120 credits in each part (academic year) of the programme. There are options in Part C and D to enable students to follow specific interests. Each part is taught in two 15-week semesters; weeks 13-15 are spent on project work in Semester 1 and assessment by examination in Semester 2.

Details of module specifications can be found at: http://cisbravo.lboro.ac.uk/epublic/wp5016.main?dept=MP&dept2=MP

Modules are listed under the Department primarily responsible for them, e.g. MP, = Department of Materials, MC = Mechanical Engineering, BS = Business School.

Full details can be found in the Programme Regulations at the following :

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/lps/progreg/year/1213/index.htm

5. Criteria for admission to the programme:

The URL describing these criteria is found at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/prospectus/ug/courses/dept/mp/me/index.htm

6. Information about the programme assessment strategy:

The method of assessment for each module is described within the relevant module specification.

Examinations are held in each subject for which an examination is required in the assessment period at the end of the semester in which it is taught. This is January for Semester 1 (Part C and D only) and May/June for Semester 2. At the end of each year the results from examinations and coursework assessment are combined, as detailed in each module specification. The results for each module are compiled and considered by an examination board, which awards credit for each satisfactorily completed module (≥40%). Students who achieve sufficient credit to meet the assessment requirements of their programme regulations are allowed to proceed to the next year of their programme.

Assessment criteria

120 credits out of the maximum possible of 120 are needed for progression in each year with an average of >55% for 2011 entry onwards. Readers are directed to the programme regulations for fuller details of this and the criteria for award of the M.Eng degree.

Re-assessment criteria

Candidates not meeting the criteria for progression have the right to be re-assessed on one further occasion and, for all Parts, this re-assessment may take place in the University’s Special Assessment Period in early September. Re-assessment in the Special Assessment Period is not if students have not achieved 60 credits. Re-assessment is also possible in the next academic year, but only by allowing the student to repeat the year of study, according to the regulations of the failed modules.

M.Eng programme transfers

From 2011 onwards students may transfer to the M.Eng programme at the end of Part A if they have gained 120 credits with an average of >55%. Transfers are possible at the end of Part B if students have satisfied the Part A requirement and gained 120 credits in Part B with an average of >55%.

Students entering pre 2011 may transfer to the M.Eng programme at the end of Part A if they have gained 120 credits. Transfers are possible at the end of Part B if students have satisfied the Part A requirement and gained at least 40 credits at >40%; 40 credits at >50% and 40 credits at >60% in Part B modules.

Final Degree

The final degree mark is made up of 20% of the Part B mark, 40% of the Part C mark, and 40% of the Part D mark.

7. What Makes the Programme Distinctive:

The programme particularly encourages teamwork and practical skills, about one third of the programme is laboratory/project studio-based learning. Hands-on experience using a range of laboratory equipment, as well as small group demonstration of specialised equipment is an integral part of the programme.

The Loughborough Materials Characterisation Centres is housed within the Materials Department and contains state-of-the-art equipment worth approximately £10m, much of which has been purchased recently, including FIB (Focused Ion Beam) and FEGSEM (Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscope). The research of academic staff feeds into teaching on this programme both through case studies in taught modules and individual and group project work.